March 2013- the one where plonk gets married!

[Gerrythetootallgiraffeswife]

Perilously close to filling the old thread suddenly!

Ugh eco poorliness is shit. I really have no suggestions, other than rest, rest and more rest. If you can find the will perhaps write down your feelings? Dd starting with a childminder sounds fab. Oooh I know! I always feel better when I have a 'me' goal to strive for. What do you want to appear on the horizon?

Any I hope you manage the conversation today. You both deserve this communication.

My distinct memories from my bleak, otherwise largely un-remembered period last year are of clutter. Everything felt murky and unnavigable. Aside from a few online cognitive behaviour sessions, I found my way out of it relied on placing adequate coping mechanisms, and attempting to communicate everything I was feeling - even if only to myself. It's so shit that my HV just told me to 'watch out' for depression as if it was something tangible, like measles. Instead it crept up on me and one day I decided to be honest with myself - two days a week as a snot faced mess was never normal for me pre ds, and are hormones really so powerful? Planning the wedding helped. Going back to work helped. Knowing we can realistically buy a house by Easter helps. But the biggest help is routine and patience. I consider myself mostly recovered but I still have shit days, ones when reminding g myself that how I feel is actually my choice, and I can choose to be neutral or negative (on days when positive is too much).

Sorry for the ramble. I'm not sure why I said all that.

Anyway. We're off for a stomp around an abbey later, and I plan to take my camera and strap a toddler to my back. And it turns out we're off on holiday next week - I'd actually forgotten! I bloody hope ds is sleeping properly by then. I think he's actually waking up cold after kicking his quilt off, so back to the grobag tonight.

Uh oh, I broke it again!

Last year is a mostly unremembered fog for me too. Can't call it PND really though, just the same old depression that's been lurking for twenty five years. The bit I think gave me the most trouble was the difficulty in accepting that I wasn't the primary purpose of my own life any more, if that makes sense.

In happier news, I have discovered an incredibly effective method for stopping tantrums! All I have to do is say, "Take your finger... Touch your nose..." Immediate cessation of all screeching and crying as she tries to send a non-existent spotty bag back to Mr Tumble.

Hello all!

I have absolutely no excuse for my lack of presence on MN in the past god knows how many months, other than I have a tendency to post on other threads and then take it extremely personally when nobody responds.

I still prefer FB I suppose, but currently I'm trying to avoid further accidents with DS who is desperate to cause himself as many injuries as possible, and have chicken pox. His lip is now slightly deformed because today he ripped the frenulum thing joining to his gum...

So ladies, is it even possible to get a summarised version of events recently?

Any are you ok? Plonk how's married life? Are all the sprogs as ridiculous as mine?!

Hi Leni! Not probably the best person for a summary (Stormy? Plonk? Doli?) but just wanted to pass through and wave before heading off for a few days away in not quite Coventry. Need to finish packing enough stuff to support a small army and hope to hell bedtime goes better the next couple of days than it did tonight . In theory my dsis is babysitting wed so we can have a grown up night out just hoping she doesn't wake him up to party But if we repeat tonight I ain't going nowhere .

Hope everyone enjoying the long weekend.

Hello Leni! How's that boy of yours doing with the pox? A summary would be difficult, but the one bit of news you may have missed is doli (formerly worse, in case you missed the name change) is going to be the first of us to have baby number two. I'm mega jealous. Other events... Plonk got hitched, it's Any and eco's turn to feel the gloom of motherhood dragging them down, yummy is desperate for her DS to go more than a day and a half without coming down with yet another illness... Who have I missed? Gerry and Betty have had rocky man periods of late. Gerry lost a metric fuckton of weight and threw herself out of a plane... And that's where my memory gives up.

You know those moments where you suddenly realise the toddler is a lot more advanced mentally than you realised? Fartypants just asked for a biscuit. On autopilot I told her to say please. She didn't say it, but she signed it.

Bloody hell Stormy she's come on a bit quick! Well done. DS is still making a moo noise for anything that has four legs.

Leni I think Stormy's summary is pretty good. We are plodding on as per!

I just went for run/hill climb. First in six weeks. OUCH.

According to DD, moles say moo. Over- and under-extending words is very common though. We did have a phase of all four legged creatures being cats. And she thinks my crochet's alive. Advanced in some areas, less so in others!

Moles as in the garden ruiners, or moles as in the ginger coloured things on my skin? Either way it's an interesting sound for them to make. DS watched a squirrel scamper across my parents' garden yesterday and was mooing a-plenty.

Our cat's still terrified of DS. He gets close enough to say 'Ello, Rosie' and holds his hand out to smack stroke her, and she just bolts. Sensible kitty.

Leni I forgot to mention, there's been a few name changes in these 'ere parts. Which names do you remember? We may then be able to enlighten you properly. Oh, and yes, I also feel slighted when my posts go down like a lead balloon. Bloody vipers.

As in the garden variety. We have yet to need a name for the skin sort, because she doesn't have any yet, just a couple of birthmarks (one of which she can't even see). In fairness, I don't actually know what noise a mole does make. I just asked her on the offchance and she mooed.

The little cat still thinks DD is some sort of monster. The neurotic cat has got a lot more patient with her recently though. She'll sit there and endure all manner of poking and prodding, so long as I'm also there and stroking her.

Plonky good on you for conquering that run. Not long til your race now! In terms of personal goals I agree I need one. I think a fun outdoorsy event involving mud and bikes with a girlfriend might be just the ticket. I just need to get out on my bike. Only ridden twice since birth

Wotta happy holidays! The Midlands has many treats lying in wait for you.

Stormy you described that post birth feeling of the bigger picture very well. I concur. I think that's a hard one to get your head around.

Leni nice to see you on here. Hope the pox have calmed doze a bit now. Stormy's précis was on the money.

I've recovered from the latest bout of illness and had two well feeling days which helps the mess in my head. I've done some work today as dh went into work late. I'm looking forward to a crafty evening whilst the coast is clear. Ecotod was weighted today. 26 lbs and tracking along 91st centile. It was a good excuse to meet our new health visitor team and visit the toy library. Jungle puppets and a jungle wooden jigsaw thing this week.

Dh has a week off starting Friday. After a long weekend in the yurt we're thinking we'll probably try one of those there staycations using the money we'd have spent on a cottage to test out some of the extortionate attractions nearby in our new hood. Whipsnade zoo, Woburn safari park, Wicksteed park, wrest park, that sort of thing. And I'm toying with idea of taking dh to a highly rated Italian restaurant for lunch on his birthday. It's walkable from our house, problem is we'd have a baby in tow that likes to be in her cot by one at the latest. These are the lame dilemmas I said I'd NEVER have.

squash and lentil stew with Basmati rice here for dinner. How about you lot? Seeking inspiration.

And Stormy, what time is Mr Tumble and how long is it on for? Sounds like I need him in my life?

Vegetable medley with a dead sheep garnish for tea here, because I'm still trying to be healthy (just keep getting mugged by the munchies). Peas, sweetcorn, red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and mange-tout, with gravy and mint sauce. I do love a good vegetable medley. Although the man is a bit stereotypical when it comes to vegetables, and had peas, corn and mash.

Mr Tumble is in a programme called Something Special, on CBeebies, several times a day. We always catch the 9.45 showing, followed by Charley Bear and then Show Me Show Me (which has the awesome groovy moves music). Mr Tumble is played by a bloke called Justin, who is very into dressing up - he also plays Lord Tumble, Grandad Tumble, and various others. It's twenty minutes long, which gives me a break but doesn't cause square eyes. This Justin chap features in quite a few CBeebies programmes, most of which I forget the names of, but it's handy if you have a Justin-obsessed child.

The only bugger with using Mr Tumble to teach small people sign language is if you're not also paying close attention to the programme, you'll not recognise any of the sign language and won't realise the child is actually communicating.

I rely heavily on CBeebies to get through my working from home days... I've stalked all the various presenters on Wikipedia too!

So hold on a min - another baby?! Doli/worse, I am not worthy... I'm still clinging on to some level of functionality by a thread! Congratulations! How long before you're doing double trouble? I think we've decided that one's enough for us. My mental health isn't up to more!

The pox has retired, and the boy was back at nursery today, where of course he fell off something and split his lip FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN A WEEK. I predict many many trips to A&E in my future...

I've got a huge swollen gland and probably tonsillitis, so things could be better, but at least work is going amazingly well.

The boy says 'cat' in a very clearly annunciated way, but whilst pointing to any animal. He says 'oh no' constantly whilst throwing things across the room. He also says 'narner' and 'cheeeese' but has abandoned 'mum' and 'dada' because we're too boring or something.

Sorry to hear there's some struggling going on - I've just been referred to a 6 week course of therapy so need to find a way to tell my boss that I need a whole day off a week...

Glad you're feeling a bit chirpier Eco. Very jealous of your yurt time! If you fancy it me and the Something are (possibly) doing a 5k fun run in the autumn in notts. It's called run or dye (because they pelt you with dye at the end) - and I'm sure you'd be most welcome to join us if you choose. Nice to have nice things to look forward to, even if they're just silly small things.

Dinner here was gammon and poached eggs. Followed by a sliver of my mums posh homemade lemon cake. She foisted it on me yesterday and I bloody wish she hadn't. I'm desperately trying to eat healthily and this lovely jolly grandmother type goes and forces her delicious cake on me. My life is so hard

We are not Mr Tumble fans in this house. Well Something Special is a great idea, and it seems to entertain ds, but Justin Fletcher doesn't exactly razz my berries. Episodes of Sarah and Duck go down well here (with me, mostly) and In The Night Garden has magical powers - it's actually made ds stop mid tantrum and go into some kind of calm trance. Then again, Derek Jacobi does have an amazing narrative voice.

WTF is all I can say to Sarah and Duck. The episode where she's feeding bread to a rainbow and it tickles? I don't know what drugs that kid's on, but I want some. She has a pet duck. Really. WTF?

Hadn't realised ITNG is narrated (voiceovered?) by the Master. We tend to have switched back to the news by the time it comes on, because Waybuloo's often on beforehand and the flute music is about the only thing that Fartypants ever freaks out about.

Haha yes her BFF is a duck, and a damn cool one at that. It's got that calm, pastel colour vibe without being too twee (unlike Abney and Teal). Sarah is very interested in music though, and generally quite enthusiastic without being a dick. These are my reasons for being a being champion of Sarah and Duck : main character is not a dick, and Clavdivs is the narrator.

Hi all, sorry for the recent radio silence. I had a joyous bank holiday weekend of D&V and this weekend I have nights to look forward too but they're allowing me to avoid the ILs so much appreciated

Eco, glad things are looking up. Plonk's right, having a personal goal definitely helps focus the mind on something other than mothering and drudgery. Time in a yurt can't hurt either!

Hi Alba waves, glad to have you back on MN!

We are great fans of Peppa and Ben and Holly here. DD won't watch anything else! She probably watches far too much to be honest but I figure as long as every day contains a bit of outdoor play, a bit of imaginative play or building, a bit of scribbling on the table craft and some food then a bit of telly isn't the end of the world!

It's grey and miserable here and I've just put a wash out which is surely asking for a downpour. I can't decide what to do today, it's a pain with everything being so busy in the school holidays. I'm contemplating a farm visit and then dog walk in a new place but who the hell knows what we'll actually manage!

I forgot to say I'd name changed... Guess you worked it out!

Obvious when one knows your DS's name!

I quite like Sarah and Duck. It just blags my head a bit at times. Actually a lot of kids TV does. Like the way ITNG completely screws with the laws of physics. The Tombliboos are bigger than the Ninky Nonk! How do they fit inside it?

Good to see you Betty. Glad you're better, d&v is so nasty. Shame about the nights though! Nice rhyme BTW - a yurt can't hurt.

ITNG physics bothers me a lot. Considering it all appears to be that blue one's dream, and he sails away on a boat 'no bigger than the palm of your hand', does that mean the Pontipines are about the size of my little finger nail? And poor Macca Pacca with his OCD.

I can't join in with any of this cbeebies chatter. Apart from ITNG which is basically a mesmerizing baby-acid trip. I can't believe someone got paid to make up the names ninky nonk and plinky plonk...how do I get that job? We're a Disney Junior household with the occasional dose of Fireman Sam if daddy gets his way DS probably watches far too much Disney too, betty, but that might be more for my benefit.

So, serious question, which one of you swapped my sleep-loving baby for an early riser? I'm going to need matchsticks to keep me awake for the rest of this week at work.

Oh, I forgot the actual reason I posted earlier.

I had a pantry moment this morning. At 7am on the dog/baby walk. The dog was pulling my hand off, the kid was spitting his milk out then screaming when I took it off him. Then I got home and the dog started digging and splodged his filthy paws all over the floor while the kid tried to reach empty glass bottles and get in the dishwasher. I ended up flinging the dog outside and just let the kid roam free while I had a sit down and sob

Kid redeemed himself by sitting on my knee for 45 minutes to watch a film before going for a 2 hour nap, and dog redeemed himself by sitting nicely in his bed and chewing his antler while I watched trashy tv and ate crisps.

Ladies, some advice needed - DS has already torn his maxillary frenulum, but now when I brush his teeth I can see (when he's lying down) that there's a sort of gap behind the top front ones which is full of white stuff, and when I brush it he screams and it bleeds...

I'm not sure going to the dentist would be any use as I literally have to pin him down to look at it, but should I worried, and what the heck might it be??

I'll text my sister the dental nurse and ask if she has any ideas.

The dog has antlers, something? Are you sure it's a dog, and not a very small elk?

I was wondering that too. By the way, how does one teach the small ones to use cutlery? I've tried everything, but he's obviously cutlerifically challenged or something